MINUTES OF THE
SENATE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
Friday, February 23, 2024 • 8:00 a.m. • 210 Senate Building


Members Present:
Sen. John D. Johnson, Chair
Sen. Lincoln Fillmore
Sen. Keith Grover
Sen. David P. Hinkins
Sen. Kathleen A. Riebe

Members Absent:
President J. Stuart Adams
Sen. Michael K. McKell
Sen. Ann Millner
Sen. Jerry W Stevenson

Staff Present:
Finn Andrew Rose, Policy Analyst
Emma Johnsen, Committee Secretary

Note: A copy of related materials and an audio recording of the meeting can be found at www.le.utah.gov.
Chair John D. Johnson called the meeting to order at 8:07 AM.
MOTION:Sen. David P. Hinkins moved to approve the minutes of the February 21, 2024 meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-5.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 5
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. J. Stevenson
1.H.B. 45 Safeut and School Safety Commission Amendments (Eliason, S.)
Rep. Steve Eliason presented the bill with the assistance of Ric Cantrell, Chief of Staff, Utah Attorney General Office and Chair, SafeUT Commission.
MOTION:Sen. Kathleen A. Riebe moved to pass H.B. 45 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-5.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 5
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. J. Stevenson
MOTION:Sen. Riebe moved to place H.B. 45 on the Consent Calendar.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-5.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 5
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. J. Stevenson
2.4th Sub. H.B. 410 Utah San Rafael State Energy Lab (Watkins, C.)
Rep. Christine F. Watkins presented the bill.
Rita Heagren, Vice President of Political Action, AFT of Utah, spoke in favor of the bill.
Greg Todd, Director, Office of Energy Development, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to pass 4th Substitute H.B. 410 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-5.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 5
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. J. Stevenson
3.3rd Sub. H.B. 347 Educational Rights Amendments (Ward, R.)
Rep. Raymond P. Ward presented the bill.
Rita Heagren, Vice President of Political Action, AFT of Utah, spoke in favor of the bill.
Nate Crippes, Public Affairs Supervising Attorney, Disability Law Center, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Dr. Bryce Day, Representative, Utah Council of Administrators of Special Education, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Dr. Shelley Halverson, Special Education Director of Teaching and Learning, South Summit School District, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Danica Puente, citizen, spoke to the bill.
Julie Beane, citizen, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Riebe moved to pass 3rd Substitute H.B. 347 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-4.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 4
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. J. Stevenson
4.H.B. 419 Charter School Funding Amendments (Walter, N.)
Rep. R. Neil Walter presented the bill.
Royce Van Tassell, Executive Director, Utah Association of Public Charter Schools, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Riebe moved to move to next agenda item.
SUBSTITUTE MOTION:Sen. Keith Grover moved to pass H.B. 419 out favorably.The substitute motion failed with a vote of 2-2-5.
Yeas - 2Nays- 2Abs- 5
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. Riebe's original motion failed with a vote 2-2-5.
Yeas - 2Nays- 2Abs- 5
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. J. Stevenson
5.1st Sub. H.B. 438 Higher Education Revisions (Peterson, K.)
Rep. Karen M. Peterson presented the bill.
John Cox, Board Member, Utah State Board of Higher Education, spoke in favor of the bill.
Rita Heagren, Vice President of Political Action, AFT of Utah, spoke to the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to pass 1st Substitute H.B. 438 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-4.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 4
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. Hinkins moved to place H.B. 419 on the next agenda.
6.H.B. 415 School Fees Amendments (Strong, M.A.)
Rep. Mark A. Strong presented the bill.
Aaryn Birchell, citizen, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Angie Stallings, Deputy Superintendent of Policy, Utah State Board of Education, spoke to the bill.
Mitchell Atencio, citizen, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Todd Hauber, Join Legislative Committee, Utah Association of School Business Officials, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Teri McCabe, Board Member, Provo City Schoolboard, spoke to the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Riebe moved to move to next agenda item.The motion failed with a vote of 2-3-4.
Yeas - 2Nays- 3Abs- 4
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. J. Stevenson
MOTION:Sen. Lincoln Fillmore moved to pass H.B. 415 out favorably.
Sen. Fillmore withdrew the motion.
MOTION:Sen. Fillmore moved to amend H.B. 415 with Amendment #5.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-4.
Amendment 5
H.B. 0415
1 .        Page 19, Lines 572 through 573 :  Page 19, Lines 572 through 573
572                 (b) Beginning July 1, 2024, and ending June 30, 2029, an LEA shall determine a
573         phase-out plan for charging fees under this section Ĥ → , { including } excluding the fees described in

2 .        Page 21, Lines 630 through 631c :  Page 21, Lines 630 through 631c
630                 [(ii)] (b) to administer [this Subsection (4)] this Subsection (9) { and Subsection (10) } .
{   631   } {                   (10) An LEA may not charge a fee under this part after the 2028-2029 school year Ĥ →  
631a         other than for an extracurricular activity, including the life-cycle replacement costs for school
631b         equipment
631c         directly related to the extracurricular activity. ← Ĥ   . }

Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 4
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. J. Stevenson
MOTION:Sen. Fillmore moved to pass H.B. 415 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 3-2-4.
Yeas - 3Nays- 2Abs- 4
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. J. Stevenson
MOTION:Chair Johnson moved to recess.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-4.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 4
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. J. Stevenson
Chair Johnson called the meeting back to order at 9:37 AM.
MOTION:Sen. Riebe moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-4.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 4
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. J. Stevenson
Chair Johnson adjourned the meeting 9:37 AM.
NOTE: 01st Substitute H.J.R. 003, S.B. 0260, 03rd Substitute H.B. 0084 were not discussed in the meeting.